Henry Kapono Kaaihue is bringing back “Back in the Day,” a nostalgia-infused concert, to the Waikiki Shell.
“At the end of last summer’s concert, every musician said, ‘We gotta do this again next year,’” said Kapono, as he is known onstage.
Kapono is the force behind the concept and the concert.
“The idea came to me when I realized that all of us musicians are so busy that we don’t get to enjoy each other’s music,” he said, grinning widely. “It really is for all of us, and we’re glad the audience likes it, too.”
A full house last year at the Waikiki Shell, when Kapono staged a lineup including popular Hawaiian musicians from past decades, confirmed that fact. Not only were the seats and the lawn packed, Kapono said, “there was no mad dash to leave to get to the parking lot before our multiple hana hou. I watched from the stage and everybody stayed. So we gave them all the artists in an onstage jam at the end.”
The other thing the audience did was sing along. “I can tell you,” he said, “when Jerry Santos launched into the medley of Olomana songs, half the adults in the audience were singing. Some wiped away a tear for hanabata days.”
The concert brings together Honolulu’s largest-ever assemblage of musicians from different bands, groups and even ages, Kapono believes. He and Gaylord Holomalia of Kalapana met up with this writer at Holomalia’s Island Sound Studios to talk story about the event, joking and brimming with excitement over the hana hou concert.
”I keep thinking about what would be good, vocally and instrumentally, so that everyone will shine,” Kapono said. “Back in the day we were C&K, part of the music scene in Honolulu. We were artists from here and we toured. But we are still here and our careers are still music. That doesn’t happen in other places. Bands change, band members move on. It’s different on an island.”
On Saturday, the Waikiki Shell stage will be jammed with a lineup including Kalapana, Jerry Santos, John Cruz, Brother Noland, Cyril Pahinui, Keola Beamer, Sean Na‘auao, Robi Kahakalau, Frank De Lima, Teresa Bright and Na Leo.
New to the show are Taimane, Mailani, Aidan James, Lanai, Kaleo Pilanca and the emcee for the night, Mileka Lincoln.
Kapono, Cruz and Brother Noland will appear as the Rough Riders.
Holomalia has plenty of memories to fuel his energy for this concert.
“I wasn’t even part of Kalapana yet when I started producing the music of some of these artists,” he said. “I was recording in my home studio before I even dreamed of my Island Sound Studios. Soon I was full-time Kalapana and full-time producer for most island music.”
Shaking his head, Holomalia said, “This brings back the memories of Toppe Ada Shoppe and Waikiki or the ’70s and ’80s at Andrews Amphitheater. … You don’t get to see everybody in one place; it’s like a big family reunion. Adding Frank De Lima brings back the Sand Villa comedy days. The other new guys are excited to be included.”
Lezlee Kaaihue, married to Kapono and the producer of the concerts, said, “Everywhere we go, someone asks for the date or says, ‘See you there!’ It feels really good.” She suggests humming a few bars of the C&K hit “Friends,” Beamer’s “Honolulu City Lights” or Santos’ “Ku‘u Home o Kahalu‘u” to prepare for a flashback.
Last year, Kapono said, “The real thrill was that it was my first time to sing with Robert Cazimero and Keola Beamer. For me it was chicken skin.”
Holomalia chimed in, “Henry singing ‘Highway to Heaven’ — chicken skin like you can’t believe!”
A portion of the proceeds will benefit Make-A-Wish as it grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.
